/ Dictionary / Index P penny dreadful: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: pen'ny dread'ful Pronunciation: [key] — pl. penny dreadfuls. a cheap, sensational novel of adventure, crime, or violence; dime novel. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. pennycress penny loafer Related Content Daily Word Quiz: pugilist Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language